danguernsey

Jim, Having marched in that show, I believe she did march '71 VFW--the next time I see Bill Howard I'll ask him to verify it. I was in the guard that year as one of the 7 dwarfs and because of the VFW rules we weren't allowed to use our costumes. As for Bonnie, she was the first female to march with the Scouts. Also, at 1980 VFW, the Scouts had several women (if I recall, some wearing beards!!) in the American flag section--it was a one-time thing. As I understand, the Scouts will be featuring a woman in the "Carmen" show this summer.

1975 Madison Scouts Director: Bill Howard Program coordinator/head brass instructor: Jim Elvord Brass arranger: Ray Baumgardt Brass instructors: Jim Elvord (head), Craig Aswegan, Tom MacInvalle Percussion arranger: Bruce Lages Percussion instructors: Mike Madigan and Lyle Siggelkow Head drill designer: David St. Angel M&M staff: Paul Litteau, Joe Miller, Phinis Horton, Charlie Maas, Rick Elvord, Karson Klund, and Frank Godfrey, with Bob Wenderski as special drill consultant. Head color guard instructor: Jeff Knupp Head guard designers: Sal Salas and John Michaelson

Could it be 1980? It has to be 1979 or 1980.

It's 1979, the first year SCV used snare harnesses (they used traditional strap in 1978--look at '78 DVD). SCV drum line went to green tunics w/ red Slingerlands in '77. If I recall, the snares played match grip beginning in '77 (I'll take a look at the '77 DVD).

Thank you DCI and Tom Blair for your hard work in making this thing a go!!

It was a pleasure meeting you guys as well. Great to see a drum corps family into the activity. All the best, Dan

I wish I could have been there with you, Chris, and my '75 brothers. MYNWA

Yeah, the sound just didn't kick through as I had hoped, but, heck, it was still a blast! That was me! :)

Bring back actual drum features/solos that demonstrate technical skill and demand of the battery. Too bad we don't hear solos like "Stone Ground Seven," or "Black Market Juggler" anymore. Year-in and year-out, virtually every drumline today does the same segmented formula--fractured snare, tenor, bass sequence. It's boring and compositionally static.

I remember you guys sent out a team in '76. Drum corps hockey certainly wasn't NHL caliber :P

Thanks for the info, Mitch!

St. Mary, You're welcome :). It was an exciting time to march in the Scouts. The tough "balls to the wall" image was a reworking of the old 60s "rock'em sock'em" tradition of east coast corps. I know that Jim Elvord--the Scout horn instructor and the man responsible for creating the Madison image--believed that some of the loudest hornlines ever were the NY Skyliners and Hawthorne Cabs of the mid 1960s (including the beloved Chicago Royal Airs). We were the junior counterpart and extention of that tradition in mid-1970s. Ahh. . . the memories, the memories.

Yes! Boston Crusader tymp lines in the late 60s and 1970 were fabulous. In addition to split 16ths in "Giraffe," you had split drags running up and down the tymp line. I always thought that Shellmer's tymp lines had influenced the great Anaheim Kingsmen tymp line of 1972--i.e., "George of the Jungle" and the similar split 16ths and drags in their second solo (can't think of the name of it off hand?). The tymp parts in those Kingsmen solos were done in much the same spirit as Shellmer's work, IMO.

Yes, the pic is backwards. It appears correctly, if I recall, in the 1975 DCI Yearbook (pic taken in '74). It looks like it was taken during the '74 "Young Person's Guide" drum solo--during the last snare segment.

The 1970 Madison Jr. Scouts. This was the seed bed of the 1975 Madison Scouts. This generation aged-out in 1977-1978.

I still have the old uni--the shirt spanned my entire career from 1971-1977, pants from 1974-77 (vertical growth spirt in '74), and 2 white aussies: one from 1975-76, the other from 1977. After our last show in late August 1977, I walked into the equipment truck to turn in the uni for the last time. The equipment manager knew it was my age-out show and in a bitter-sweet tone said, . ."Dan, keep it. You earned it." Luckily, our dark green "janitor" uniforms were relatively cheap compared to other corps. I also have the Explorer Scout envelop hat I wore from 1971-early 1973, red drum covers, red sash from 1976-77, and, of course, white gauntlets and leggings. The tenor sticks I used at 1975 finals are hermetically sealed, lol! I'm still relatively slim, but there is no way I'll ever be able to climb back into that uni. It's a great memory piece to treasure during one of the happiest periods of my life . . . whooooooops!! Time to take it to the dry cleaners: its been awhile b**bs

LMAO! You studs had it made!

That is actually 1974.

It was a red name tag. It was a humorous way to individualize an anonymous dark green "janitors" uniform. Dan S. is right. He did compete in HS gymnastics with the disability--a highly motivated guy. He was also by and large a self-taught musician. He received minimal music training in school. If I recall, his father taught him piano and he took it from there on his own. During "Banjos," he threw in Zappa licks all done by ear--none of his parts were written out. He went on to play with some hot bands in the 80s, including a brief standin with "Spyro Gyro." He was one of the best jazz improv players in the history of drum corps. In all, an exceptional individual and talented musician.

Dan, I think that is 1978; the pic is pretty dark, obscuring the red sashes. I make out white tenors with scoops and white bass drum heads, both of which we didn't have in '77. MYNWA

Yes, Dan, that is early 1973 before we got the white aussies and gauntlets. It was taken in early June during the Civil War medley, which served as the Scouts's color pre and concert. I'm pretty sure that 1973 was the last year the Scouts did a color pre. In fact, you can see a portion of it on the '73 video highlights from Bluegrass Invitational, a video that focuses primarily on SCV (can't think of the name of the video off hand). It became blatantly apparent that this "old school" medley was out of place with the youthful elan of "Ballet in Brass," "Russian Army March," and "Brian's Song." So, about a month later (c. mid-July) we replaced the Civil War stuff with "God Bless the Child." With the addition of "God Bless," all the pieces came together and the Scout image was solidified: in July '73, the Madison Scouts became the Madison Scouts. The addition of "God Bless the Child" was the moment of genesis for us, akin to Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam" (Sistine Chapel), in which God implants the divine spark of life into inert matter, lol!! MYNWA

Hey John, How are you doing? Nice to see Dwayne L. in the pic. He was a good bud of mine in the mid-80s when he lived in Madison. I haven't been in touch with him for awhile. Any Oakland vets know where I can find him? This thread is a blast. Its like old war vets getting together swaping pics and stories. Its great to see some "before" and "after" shots of some DCP folk here. And, thank you St. Mary for posting pics and commentary about DC waaaaay back in the day. Keep it comin!

While I'm here I might as well post my mug from back in the day. Me as a swashbuckling tenor drummer in the mid 1970s.

Wrong, Dan Drum line was the only section to wear red sashes prior to 1978; hornline and guard wore black. Otherwise, you are correct: 1978 was the first year the entire corps wore red sashes. MYNWA

That is the 9-man snare line from '74. The tenors didn't make it into the pic.